The Effects of Appearance Schemas and Commentary on Body Image and Eating Disorder

121 Pages·2017·2.19 MB·English

by  Alyson C. Hermé

Loma Linda University
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The Effects of Appearance Schemas and
Commentary on Body Image and Eating Disorder
Psychopathology
Alyson C. Hermé
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Hermé, Alyson C., "The Effects of Appearance Schemas and Commentary on Body Image and Eating Disorder Psychopathology"
(2016).Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects. 379.
http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/379
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LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY
School of Behavioral Health
in conjunction with the
Faculty of Graduate Studies

____________________

The Effects of Appearance Schemas and Commentary on Body Image and Eating
Disorder Psychopathology

by

Alyson C. Hermé

____________________

A Dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of
the requirements for the degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology

____________________

September 2016
© 2016

Alyson C. Hermé
All Rights Reserved
Each person whose signature appears below certifies that this dissertation in his/her
opinion is adequate, in scope and quality, as a dissertation for the degree Doctor of
Philosophy.

, Chairperson
Sylvia Herbozo, Associate Professor of Psychology

Adam L. Aréchiga, Associate Professor of Psychology

Kendal C. Boyd, Associate Professor of Psychology

Jeffery Mar, Assistant Clinical Professor, Psychiatry, School of Medicine

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank my committee members, Drs. Herbozo, Boyd, Arechiga and
Mar, who supported me through the proposal and defense processes, and whose feedback
was indispensable to the development of this project.
To my family and friends, your support has been invaluable in seeing me through
not only my dissertation, but through my doctoral program. I want to give special
recognition to my parents Betty Jo and Lucas Hermé. Without your unyielding belief that
I could accomplish my dreams, I would not have had the courage necessary to complete
such a formidable task. Your love, strength, encouragement, and compassion has shaped
the person I am today. To Erica and Lukie, thank you for your encouragement. I was not
always the easiest person to get along with while completing this project, and in the
nature of true sibling support, you both stood by my side while emboldening me, teasing
me, and often giving me that extra little push I needed to keep me moving. I am lucky to
have siblings who can mix such care and concern while simultaneously keeping me light
on my feet with acts of well calculated mischief. I love you both more than words can
describe.
To my partner, Seth Alt, I want to thank you for the never ending support and for
all of the hours you helped pour into this project. Thank you for staying up late working
on edits with me, and for tirelessly learning new concepts so you could efficiently edit
my project. I will be forever grateful for your dedication. Finally, to my friends, thank
you for being understanding of my dreams and goals. Thank you for cheering me on,
understanding my absences, and celebrating my successes. Without friends like you this
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process would have been lonely. To my friends and family all, I love you, thank you for
always believing in me.

v
CONTENT

Approval Page .................................................................................................................... iii

Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ iv

List of Figures .................................................................................................................. viii

List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... ix

List of Abbreviations ...........................................................................................................x

Abstract .............................................................................................................................. xi

Chapter

1. Introduction ..............................................................................................................1

Body Image ........................................................................................................2
Eating Disorder Psychopathology......................................................................4
Sociocultural Theory ..........................................................................................6
Appearance Investment and Schemas ................................................................8
Appearance-Related Commentary ...................................................................14
Current Study ...................................................................................................20
Aims .................................................................................................................22

2. Methods..................................................................................................................25

Participants .......................................................................................................25
Procedure .........................................................................................................25
Measures ..........................................................................................................26

Demographic Information ..........................................................................26
Body Mass Index .......................................................................................26
Appearance Investment ..............................................................................26
Appearance-Related Commentary .............................................................27
Multidimensional Body Self-Relations Questionnaire ..............................29

Appearance Satisfaction.......................................................................29
Body Satisfaction .................................................................................29

Eating Disorder Psychopathology..............................................................30

Data Analysis ...................................................................................................30

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3. Results ....................................................................................................................35

Aim 1: Correlation of Study Variables ............................................................36
Aim 2: Appearance Investment and Frequency of Commentary as
Predictors of Appearance satisfaction and Body satisfaction .........................39
Aim 3: Appearance Investment and Effect of Commentary as
Predictors of Appearance satisfaction and Body satisfaction ..........................50
Aim 4: Appearance Investment and Effect of Commentary as
Predictors of Eating Disorder Psychopathology .............................................61
Aim 5: Appearance Investment among BMI Groups ......................................67

4. Discussion .............................................................................................................69

Associations Between Appearance Investment and Study Variables .............70
Appearance Investment and Appearance-related Commentary as
Predictors of Body Image ................................................................................74
Appearance Investment and Appearance-related Commentary as
Predictors of Eating Disorder Psychopathology ..............................................79
Appearance Investment among BMI Groups ..................................................81
Limitations and Strengths of the Current Study ..............................................82
Clinical Implications ........................................................................................83
Future Directions .............................................................................................84

References ..........................................................................................................................85

Appendices
A. The Beliefs about Appearance Questionnaire (ASI-R) ......................................98
B. The Verbal Commentary on Physical Appearance Scale (VCOPAS) ..............100
C. The Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire: Appearance
Evaluation (MBSRQ-AE) ................................................................................103
D. The Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire: Body Areas
Satisfaction Scale (MBSRQ-BASS) .................................................................104
E. The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) ............................105

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FIGURES

Figures Page

1. Appearance Investment and Frequency of Appearance-Related
Commentary on Appearance Satisfaction .............................................................44
2. Appearance Investment and Frequency of Appearance-Related
Commentary on Body Satisfaction .......................................................................49
3. Appearance Investment and Effect of Appearance-Related Commentary
on Appearance Satisfaction....................................................................................55
4. Appearance Investment and Effect of Appearance-Related Commentary
on Body Satisfaction .............................................................................................60
5. Appearance Investment and Effect of Appearance-Related Commentary
on Eating Disorder Pathology ...............................................................................66
6. Appearance Investment Differences in BMI Groups.............................................68

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TABLES

Tables Page

1. Participant characteristics ......................................................................................35
2. Correlations of study variables ..............................................................................38
3. Results of hierarchical multiple regression analyses predicting appearance
satisfaction from appearance investment, and frequency of appearance-
related commentary for college-aged women. .......................................................40
4. Results of hierarchical multiple regression analysis predicting body
satisfaction from appearance investment, and frequency of appearance-
related commentary for college-aged women. .......................................................45
5. Results of hierarchical multiple regression analysis predicting appearance
satisfaction from appearance investment, and effect of appearance-related
commentary for college-aged women... .................................................................51
6. Results of hierarchical multiple regression analysis predicting body
satisfaction from appearance investment, and effect of appearance-related
commentary for college-aged women... .................................................................56
7. Results of hierarchical multiple regression analysis predicting eating
disorder psychopathology from appearance investment, and effect of
appearance-related commentary for college-aged women... .................................62
8. Means and standard deviations for appearance investment for BMI groups
and results of analysis of variance .........................................................................68

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